Device for steam heating systems



Oct. 10, 1939. 5, GREENWOOD: 2,175,728

DEVICE FOR STEAM HEATING SYSTEMS Filed Dec. 2, 1937 INVENTOR. Z6MZ6" 6T vmwa ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 10, 1939 UNITED srAT-Es PATENT OFFiCE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in devices for venting pipes and is directed more particularly to improvements in a combined shutoff and vent valve for venting steam-heating systems.

The principal objects of the invention are directed to the provision of a combined shut-off and vent valve for venting pipes of various kinds. When the valve is used in connection with a steam-heating system, it is adapted and arranged to be used in connection with a supply pipe of a steam-heating system and by means thereof the flow of steam may be cut off and the system vented.

Where a steam riser extends upwardly through a number of floors of a building the passage of steam is more or less retarded through the riser due to the failure of proper venting. It is customary to provide a vent valve on each radiator or coil but steam does not reach the radiator until air in the whole system has been vented.

According to this invention, the valve is adapted to vent the riser so that live steam quickly finds its way upwardly and the ordinary radiator vent valve is called upon to vent only that air therein.

The novel features and advantages of the invention will be more readily understood when it is considered that in a building of a number of floors where there are separate rooms containing radiators, if a largenumber of radiators are closed, the steam to those radiators of which the valves are not closed is greatly retarded. By means of this invention the main pipe may be vented so that steam reaches the open radiators more rapidly and easily.

The form of the invention at present preferred is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. l is a diagrammatic combined sectional and elevational view showing a steam riser and radiator in connection with which the novel device of the invention is in use; and

Fig. 2 is a partial sectional and side elevational view of a valve apparatus embodying the novel features of the invention.

Referring now to the drawing more in detail, the invention will be more fully described.

A steam supply riser is represented by 2 and this extends from the steam supply upwardly through various floors indicated by F. To the upper end of the riser 2 the device V of the invention is connected and from it extends a pipe 4 which is connected to a radiator represented generally by R.

There may be, of course, numerous pipes connected to the riser for directing steam to the radiators on each of the floors and the radiators R may take various forms. As is customary, however, that shown in the drawing is made up of a plurality of sections S and has, on that end opposite from that to which the steam is introduced, an air vent valve represented by 5, the latter being conventional in form.

The valve V of the invention has a seat 6 and a plug 8 which is movable towards and away therefrom by means of a stem l0 operated by a hand-wheel l2. The steam ID extends through a suitable stuffing box M.

The valve has a chamber I5 on a side thereof and a passageway l6 extends therefrom and leads into communication with inlet l1 which is connected to the riser 2.

A member I8 is disposed within the chamber l5 and it has an upper stem 20 disposed loosely in a bore 22 of a cap 24. The member I8 is preferably hollow and is adapted to expand to some extent when heated and to be moved upwardly so that its upper side may abut the under side of the member 24 to close off the enlarged bore 22 therein.

Preferably there is a projection such as 26 in the bottom of chamber l5 for holding the member l8 above passageway l6 and thus facilitating the heating thereof.

With the valve connected after the manner shown in Fig. 1, the valve may be opened or closed by means of the hand Wheel [2. As steam enters the riser 2, air is expelled thereby through the passageway i6 past the member l8 and through the bore 22 thus insuring a rapid expulsion of air in the riser which normally tends to hold back the steam.

When the air has been expelled from the riser so that steam is permitted to pass into passageway IS, the member I8 is caused to move upwardly and close off the outlet 22. Thus, since the riser is then filled with live steam the steam readily finds its way to the radiator expelling the air therefrom outwardly through the air vent valve 5.

It will be readily appreciated that, by means of the device of this invention, the steam will reach the radiator R in a much shorter space of time than would be the case where air in the entire system is vented through the radiator vent valve 5.

What it is desired to claim is:

1. The combination with a steam riser leading upwardly from a steam supply and a conventional steam radiator having an inlet and an air Vent-Valve of a combined shut-off valve and air vent comprising, a body member having an inlet in communication with said riser and a pair of separated outlets, one of which is in direct communication with the inlet of said radiator and the. other of which leads into the atmosphere, and a pair of valves within the body member for independently opening and closing communication between said inlet and said outlets.

2. The combination with a steam riser leading upwardly from a steam supply and a conventional steam radiator having an inlet and an air-vent-valve of a combined shut-off valve and air vent, comprising, a body provided with a pair of separated chambers and having a separate outlet leading from out of each chamber and an inlet leading into one of said chambers below the outlet thereof, said inlet being in communication with said riser, a valve seat in said one chamber between said inlet and the outlet thereof, a valve seat in the other chamber adjacent the outlet thereof, a float valve in said other chamber movable upwardly towards the lastnamed seat to close the outlet thereof which leads into the atmosphere, a communicating passageway extending from between said inlet and the seat in said one chamber to a point in said other chamber below said float valve, and a manually adjustable valve member for moving towards and away from the first-named seat, the outlet in said one chamber being in direct communication with the inlet of said radiator, all adapted and arranged whereby said valve member may be adjusted to open and close communication between said inlet and said radiator independently of the operation of the float valve.

LEUIE G. GREENWOOD. 

